San Rafael residents oppose high-density housing near Civic Center

San Rafael residents have a cornucopia of concerns about a plan to set aside land for high-density affordable housing near the Marin Civic Center, but they all agree the area is not suited for such development.

"Let's right these wrongs soon. Now is the time to act," said Richard Hall.

Hall was one of about 90 people who attended a meeting Monday with San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips and City Councilwoman Kate Colin at the Marin County Office of Education to specifically discuss the site — called a "priority development area." The three remaining City Council members were in the audience.

Critics of the plan to use the development area for high-density affordable housing argue it will lead to more traffic congestion, a loss of local control, put more stress on community services and result in development incompatible with Marin neighborhoods. Only a handful of speakers at Wednesday's meeting said they supported higher-density housing; the rest said it will draw more crime to the area and burden local schools.

Andy Falk said he is concerned about the impact of high-density housing on the Dixie School District and his children.

"I'm very concerned about the budgets for the schools," Falk said. "I only see the enrollment getting greater."

Bill Carney, president of Sustainable San Rafael, encouraged attendees to read the actual plan, which he said is aimed at placing people close to transit centers.

"It's nothing to be scared of, once you take a look at it," Carney said.

After an initial 15 minutes of shouting out questions at the start of the meeting, members of the public took turns voicing their concerns about priority development areas, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit stations and Plan Bay Area. Concerns about high-density affordable housing areas have grown amid debate about the draft Plan Bay Area, a regional planning and transportation blueprint that envisions 30-unit-per-acre affordable developments along Marin's Highway 101 corridor as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Civic Center priority development area is one of two San Rafael set aside as a possible location for high-density affordable housing; the other being in downtown San Rafael. Both sites would be near SMART train stations. In 2008-2009, the city submitted the sites to the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for inclusion in Plan Bay Area.

Chris Cosgrove said the community is angered by the city's involvement with Plan Bay Area.

"I want to see a complete moratorium on any of this building until Marin County governments are out of the Association of Bay Area Governments," Cosgrove said. "There's no reason Marin needs to be a member."

By designating priority development areas, the city is eligible for greater grant funding for planning, transportation and infrastructure projects. The city has already received grant money from Plan Bay Area to prepare for the arrival of the SMART trains. In addition, identifying these areas can lead to reduced requirements or even exemption from California Environmental Quality Act review for future developments in the area.

Cathy Manovi said the grant funding isn't worth the development.

"It seems to me the money we'd be getting from this isn't worth it," Manovi said. "I want to advocate against this idea of condensing poverty into this one area."

Mayor Phillips said the city plans to respond to speakers' concerns in a document formatted like a frequently asked questions handout.

"We're a ways from being done," Phillips said. "I think the concept has evolved in perhaps ways that were unforeseeable."